System and method for testing deflated tire handling
First Claim
1. A method for rating the handling performance of tires, wherein selected tires are positioned on a test vehicle such that a tire—
- test vehicle combination is subjected to predetermined maneuvers, and whereby ratings are obtained in accordance with such predetermined maneuvers, said method comprising the steps of;
assigning at least one steady state rating, wherein a steady state rating relates to the handling performance of a tire when such tire in combination with the test vehicle is subjected to a predetermined steady state maneuver;
assigning at least one transient state rating, wherein a transient state rating relates to the handling performance of a tire when such tire in combination with the test vehicle is subjected to a predetermined transient state maneuver;
obtaining a g-value corresponding to the lateral acceleration of the test vehicle during a selected predetermined maneuver at which a predefined level of tire-vehicle instability is exhibited; and
calculating an initial tire performance rating based on the steady state and transient state ratings from said assigning steps and the g-value from said obtaining step.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A subjective test method for characterizing the deflated handling performance of self-supporting tires includes the steps of positioning tires on selected wheels of a test vehicle and then subjecting the tire—test vehicle combination to a plurality of different driving maneuvers such that a variety of testing objectives can be evaluated. Exemplary driving maneuvers are representative of a vehicle'"'"'s operation in steady state, transient state, throttle lift-off, and/or emergency driving situations. Testing objectives that are obtained in accordance with each test maneuver may include both objective criteria that may be obtained via vehicle instrumentation and subjective criteria that may be assigned grade ratings by a test driver. Uniformity of testing maneuvers and driver solicitation is preferred to minimize dispersion in test results. A standardized reporting grid is also provided in accordance with the disclosed technology such that the results of the testing objectives may be properly documented. Selected test data are then used to provide performance ratings for tire acceptability levels. Some performance ratings are automatically calculated through an established algorithm, and all ratings are preferably provided on a common rating scale.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for rating the handling performance of tires, wherein selected tires are positioned on a test vehicle such that a tire—
- test vehicle combination is subjected to predetermined maneuvers, and whereby ratings are obtained in accordance with such predetermined maneuvers, said method comprising the steps of;
assigning at least one steady state rating, wherein a steady state rating relates to the handling performance of a tire when such tire in combination with the test vehicle is subjected to a predetermined steady state maneuver;
assigning at least one transient state rating, wherein a transient state rating relates to the handling performance of a tire when such tire in combination with the test vehicle is subjected to a predetermined transient state maneuver;
obtaining a g-value corresponding to the lateral acceleration of the test vehicle during a selected predetermined maneuver at which a predefined level of tire-vehicle instability is exhibited; and
calculating an initial tire performance rating based on the steady state and transient state ratings from said assigning steps and the g-value from said obtaining step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
assigning at least one emergency criteria rating, wherein an emergency criteria rating relates to the handling performance of a tire when such tire in combination with a test vehicle is subjected to a predetermined emergency maneuver; and
determining an overall tire performance rating based on the initial tire performance rating from said calculating step and from the emergency criteria rating from said step of assigning at least one emergency criteria rating.
- test vehicle combination is subjected to predetermined maneuvers, and whereby ratings are obtained in accordance with such predetermined maneuvers, said method comprising the steps of;
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8. A method for rating the handling performance of tires as in claim 1, further including the steps of:
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assigning at least one emergency criteria rating, wherein an emergency criteria rating relates to the handling performance of a tire when such tire in combination with a test vehicle is subjected to a predetermined emergency maneuver; and
determining an overall tire performance rating based on the initial tire performance rating from said calculating step and from the emergency criteria ratings from said step of assigning at least one emergency criteria rating.
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9. A method for rating the handling the performance of tires as in claim 8, wherein said emergency criteria rating is assigned to a variable selected from the group including bead unseat class type, instability limit speed, peak input g-level, and trajectory grade.
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10. A rating process for subjectively evaluating the deflated handling performance of tires, wherein the evaluated tires are positioned on selected wheels of a test vehicle, and wherein said rating process comprises the following steps:
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assigning at least one steady state rating, wherein the steady state rating is obtained upon deflating a selected tire and subjecting it to a predetermined steady state maneuver;
assigning at least one transient state rating, wherein the transient state rating is obtained upon subjecting the selected deflated tire to a predetermined transient state maneuver;
assigning at least one emergency state rating, wherein the emergency state rating is obtained upon subjecting the selected deflated tire to a predetermined emergency state maneuver; and
obtaining a tire performance rating by inputting the steady state, transient state, and emergency state subjective ratings into an algorithmic set of formulas such that the tire performance rating is an output of the algorithmic set of formulas. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A subjective test method used to provide a performance rating for self-supporting tires, wherein a selected self-supporting tire is positioned on a test vehicle such that the resulting tire—
- test vehicle combination is subjected to a plurality of testing maneuvers, said subjective test method comprising the steps of;
subjecting the tire—
test vehicle combination to a steady state testing maneuver;
obtaining an alphanumeric value for the lateral acceleration of the test vehicle at a point during the steady state testing maneuver at which the tire-vehicle system achieves a predetermined level of initial instability;
assigning alphanumeric values to at least one steady state performance variable, wherein the alphanumeric values relate to the performance of the selected self-supporting tire during subjection to the steady state testing maneuver;
subjecting the tire—
test vehicle combination to a transient state testing maneuver;
assigning alphanumeric values to at least one transient state performance variable, wherein the alphanumeric values relate to the performance of the selected self-supporting tire during subjection to the transient state testing maneuver;
subjecting the tire—
test vehicle combination to an emergency testing maneuver;
assigning alphanumeric values to at least one emergency performance variable, wherein the alphanumeric values relate to the performance of the selected self-supporting tire during subjection to the emergency testing maneuver; and
determining a tire performance rating based on algorithmic combination of the alphanumeric values corresponding to the lateral acceleration and the steady state, transient state and emergency performance variables. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
subjecting the tire—
test vehicle combination to a throttle lift-off driving maneuver; and
assigning alphanumeric values to at least one throttle lift-off performance value, wherein the alphanumeric values relate to the performance of the selected self-sup tire during subjection to the throttle lift-off driving manuver; and
wherein said step of determining a performance variable is based on algorithmic combination of the alphanumeric values corresponding to the lateral acceleration and the steady state, transient state, emergency, and throttle lift-off performance variables.
- test vehicle combination is subjected to a plurality of testing maneuvers, said subjective test method comprising the steps of;
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26. A standardized procedure for obtaining a deflated performance rating for self-supporting tires, wherein a selected deflated self-supporting tire is positioned on a selected wheel of a test vehicle such that the resultant tire—
- test vehicle combination is subjected to various maneuvers, and wherein predefined test ratings related to deflated tire performance upon the vehicle being subjected to selected of the various maneuvers are obtained for use in accordance with selected steps of said standardized procedure, said standardized procedure comprising the following steps;
obtaining a g-value for the lateral acceleration of the test vehicle when the tire—
test vehicle is subjected to a steady state maneuver and when the tire vehicle system achieves a predetermined level of initial instability;
assigning a plurality of performance values for predefined testing criteria based on the tire'"'"'s deflated performance when subjected to selected maneuvers;
calculating an initial tire rating based on the obtained g-value and the assigned plurality of performance values;
assigning at least one emergency performance value for predefined emergency performance criteria based on the tire'"'"'s performance when subjected to an emergency maneuver; and
determining an overall tire rating based on the initial tire rating and the assigned emergency performance value. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- test vehicle combination is subjected to various maneuvers, and wherein predefined test ratings related to deflated tire performance upon the vehicle being subjected to selected of the various maneuvers are obtained for use in accordance with selected steps of said standardized procedure, said standardized procedure comprising the following steps;
Specification